Public Health urges physicians to increase pertussis vaccinations

The California Department of
Public Health is urging physicians to increase their Tdap vaccinations because
of the current statewide pertussis epidemic. To protect infants who are too
young to be vaccinated, anyone with potential infant contact should be
immunized. CDPH is making additional Tdap vaccine available at no charge to
eligible hospitals, so that they can immunize postpartum women and their close
household contacts. For more information, visit www.cdph.ca.gov.

Health care providers are also
urged to get Tdap vaccinations to protect themselves and their patients.
Effective Sept. 1, the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Disease Standard requires
all hospitals, outpatient medical facilities and other employers covered by the
Standard to offer Tdap immunization to their employees who may be exposed to
pertussis. Employees who choose not to be vaccinated will be required to sign a
declination form.

Pertussis infection rates in
California have increased four-fold this year, compared to the same time period
in 2009. If current trends continue, the state could experience a 50-year high
in pertussis cases, despite wide availability of the Tdap vaccine. So far this
year, five California infants less than three months of age have died of the
illness.

Physicians are reminded that
pertussis immunity from previous infection or vaccination wanes over time. Even
fully immunized children become susceptible to pertussis by adolescence.
Additionally, because pertussis vaccine for adolescents and adults was not
available until 2005, immunization rates in these populations remains low.

Rep. Thompson honored by North Bay physicians

Congressman Mike Thompson, whose
district includes several North Bay counties, received the 2010 Legacy Award at
the annual CMA District 10 caucus in Santa Rosa on June 26. Thompson was
honored for his efforts to promote the health and well-being of California
residents.

Among many accomplishments in
his long career, Thompson wrote landmark legislation while serving in the
California State Senate that required health insurance providers to offer all
children comprehensive preventive care. Now, as chair of the Blue Dog
Coalition’s health care task force, Thompson leads efforts in Congress to correct
low Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians and to implement a
comprehensive telemedicine initiative.

CMA District 10 includes medical
societies in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and
Sonoma counties, representing more than 2,300 physicians in all specialties and
modes of practice. At their annual caucus, delegates from the North Bay
societies vote on resolutions to be presented at the CMA House of Delegates in
the fall.

Dr. Bretan begins term as MMS president

Peter Bretan, MD, a urologist
and transplant surgeon in private practice in Novato, began his one-year term
as president of MMS on July 1. A California native, he received his MD from
UCSF in 1980 and then completed residencies in general surgery and urology,
along with postdoctoral fellowships in radiology and transplantation surgery.
He moved to Novato in 1991 an became an associate professor at UCSF, leaving in
1999 to enter private practice.

In a wide-ranging interview in
the current issue of Marin Medicine, Bretan discusses the state of medicine in
Marin County and his commitment to performing transplant surgeries in the
Philippines. The interview can be read online at www.marinmedicalsociety.org/magazine.

Six-month Medicare patch takes effect

The new Medicare legislation
signed by President Obama in June retroactively raises physician payment rates
by 2.2%, effective June 1. The new rates apply only through November, however.
If Congress fails to intervene, Medicare cuts mandated by the sustainable
growth rate (SGR) will take effect on Dec. 1.

Physicians who submitted June
claims with charges less than the 2.2% update amount will need to contact their
local Medicare contractor to request an adjustment. Charges on claims cannot be
altered without a request from the physician or provider. CMS has directed
physicians not to resubmit claims already submitted to their Medicare
contractor.

The new legislation does not
include the California geographic payment (GPCI) fix, which would have provided
$400 million so that 14 currently underpaid counties, including Marin, would be
reimbursed based on more accurate geographic practice costs. CMA will pursue
that provision in other legislation.

Doctors need to verify their Medicare PECOS enrollment

Physicians who have not updated
their Medicare enrollment information in the past five years may need to fill
out another application or risk facing payment problems for ordered or referred
services.

Under new rules that took effect
in July, Medicare is authorized to reject claims if an ordering or referring
physician is not identified in Medicare’s Internet-based PECOS enrollment
system. Thousands of otherwise acceptable Medicare claims could go unpaid
merely because they were submitted by providers who enrolled in Medicare before
the PECOS database was developed.

Don’t know if you’re in PECOS?
CMA has developed a step-by-step guide to walk physicians through the process,
from determining if they are already in PECOS to helping them navigate the
Internet-based PECOS enrollment system. This guide is available to members at www.cmanet.org.
A previously recorded PECOS enrollment webinar is also available for viewing.
Nonmember physicians can call CMA at 800-786-4262 for more information.

MBC signage requirements now in effect

California physicians are now
required to inform their patients that they are licensed by the Medical Board
of California, and to provide patients with the board’s contact information.

CMA has prepared a number of
resources to help physicians comply with these new regulations, including
downloadable posters and customizable patient notices. The materials are
available to members at www.cmanet.org.
Nonmember physicians can call CMA at 800-786-4262 for more information.

According to the medical board,
physicians, not facilities, are responsible for compliance with this
regulation. In group settings, only one sign must be posted (should that option
be chosen), but it must be posted in a location where it can be seen by all
patients.

Save the date: LifePlant fundraiser on Sept. 11

A wine-tasting fundraiser for
LifePlant will be held at Novato City Hall from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept.
11. LifePlant sponsors kidney transplant missions in the Philippines. More
details about the fundraiser will appear in the August issue of MMS News
Briefs.

Save the date: North Bay membership dinner on Oct. 28

Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr.
Richard Carmona is the featured speaker at the combined North Bay medical
societies’ membership dinner on Thursday, Oct. 28. The event, to be held at the
San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere, begins with a reception at 6 p.m.,
followed by dinner at 7. Dr. Carmona, a highly respected trauma surgeon and
public health expert, served as surgeon general from 2002 to 2006. He will speak
about the role of state and local medical societies in disaster preparedness.

PEOPLE

Brian Kennedy, PhD, is
the new president and CEO of the Buck Institute in Novato. Kennedy, who
previously worked at the University of Washington, is widely known for his
research on the basic biology of aging. The Buck Institute employs scores of
doctors and other scientists involved in research on aging. An article about
the institute’s Alzheimer’s research appears in the current issue of Marin
Medicine, available online at www.marinmedicalsociety.org/magazine.

Steve Osborn, editor of Marin Medicine and MMS News Briefs, is now
directly employed by MMS as its communications director. He previously worked
for Redwood Health Services. The move comes as MMS assumes responsibility for
all aspects of its publications, including editorial services, graphic design
and advertising. Osborn will continue to edit the magazine and newsletter, in
addition to administering the MMS website and handling public relations. His
e-mail is still sosborn@marinmedicalsociety.org,
but his phone has changed to 707-540-5096. His old phone at RHS is no longer active.

CLASSIFIEDS

Medical office space to shareDermatology practice seeks full- or part-time physician to share medical
space in San Rafael. Office is a beautifully remodeled building in great
location. Two exam rooms with exam tables are available and use of additional
rooms is negotiable. Shared restrooms and staff lounge. Contact Kathleen at
415-259-0131 or kdupirak@yahoo.com.

How to submit a classified ad
To submit a classified ad for MMS News Briefs or Marin Medicine, contact Erika
Goodwin at solanomedsoc@sbcglobal.net
or 707-548-6491. The cost is one dollar per word.

ABOUT MMS

The Marin Medical Society, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association,
supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the
community. We are affiliated with the California Medical Association and the
American Medical Association.